Acta Sci. Pol., Hortorum Cultus 4(2) 2005, 69-77 THE EFFECT OF CHITOSAN ON THE FORMATION OF MICROORGANISM COMMUNITIES IN THE RHIZOSPHERE SOIL OF SOYBEAN Alina Pastucha Agricultural University in Lublin Abstract. The experiment was conducted in the years 1999 2001. The object of the studies was the rhizosphere soil of soybean Polan cv., and 0.1% chitosan. This compound was used once (seed dressing), twice (seed dressing and seedling spraying), three times (seed dressing, seedling spraying and plant spraying at anthesis). The experiment also considered a control combination, i.e. without chitosan. The purpose of the studies was to determine the effect of chitosan on the qualitative and quantitative composition of microorganisms in rhizosphere soil with antagonists distinguished. The microbiological analysis of samples of soybean rhizosphere soil taken from particular experimental combinations pointed to different numbers of bacteria and fungi. The greatest total number of bacteria colonies and the smallest number of fungi colonies were characteristic of the rhizosphere soil of soybean after using chitosan three times. This sample of soil contained the greatest number of bacteria and fungi with antagonistic effect towards plant pathogens. Key words: chitosan, soybean, rhizosphere, antagonistic bacteria, antagonistic fungi INTRODUCTION Microorganisms belong to the elements of proper functioning of natural systems. Soil is the habitat of organisms living together and influencing each other. It is also the medium, the place where plants are attached and a reservoir of biogenous elements [Badura 2004]. Thanks to the existing microorganisms, soils are suppressive towards certain plant pathogens. Antagonistic microorganisms exudating metabolites with the properties of antibiotics or other toxic compounds are probably responsible for those properties [Pita 1988, Parke 1990, Badura 2004]. Besides, compounds exudated by the roots affect the species composition of microorganisms and their number [Rovira 1969, Funck-Jensen and Hockenhull 1984]. The Corresponding author Adres do korespondencji: Alina Pastucha, Department of Phytopathology, Agricultural University in Lublin, ul. Leszczyskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, e-mail: alina.pastucha@ar.lublin.pl
70 A. Pastucha number of particular populations of microorganisms as well as their biological activity in the soil depends, among other things, on the content of organic substances in the soil [Alexander 1977]. Chitin and its derivatives belongs to such organic compounds and it is more and more frequently introduced in cultivation and in plant protection [Transmo et al. 1993, Pospieszny 1997, Pita et al. 2000, Orlikowski et al. 2001]. The purpose of the present paper was to determine the effect of chitosan on the quantitative and qualitative composition of microorganism populations in the rhizosphere soil of soybean. MATERIAL AND METHODS The studies were conducted in the years 1999 2001 and their object was the rhizosphere soil of soybean Polan cv. The experiment was set during the first 10 days of May at the Experimental Station of Czesławice near Nałczów on a field of soybean monoculture. It comprised three combinations, i.e. when 0.1% chitosan was used once (only for seed dressing), twice (for seed dressing + seedling spraying) and three times (for seed dressing + seedling spraying + plant spraying at the beginning of anthesis). Besides, the control combination was also considered, i.e. without using chitosan. Chitosan in the form of micro-crystalline gel was obtained from the Institute of Chemical Fibres in Łód. Soil samples during the full anthesis of plants were sampled to sterile Petri dishes with the aim of conducting a microbiological analysis described by Martyniuk et al. [1991]. Soil solutions with the dilutions from 10-1 to 10-7 were prepared from particular soil samples in laboratory conditions. The total number of bacteria was determined on Nutrient Agar with the use of the solutions 10-5, 10-6, 10-7. In the case of bacteria from genus Bacillus the medium Tryptic Soy Agar and the dilutions 10-4, 10-5, 10-6 were used, while for Pseudomonas spp. the studies used Pseudomonas Agar F and the dilutions 10-2, 10-3 and 10-4. The total number of fungi in each soil sample was established on Matrin s medium [1950] with the dilutions of 10-2, 10-3, 10-4. The numbers of bacteria colonies and fungi were converted into 1 g of soil dry weight. The obtained isolates of bacteria from genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas (200 isolates from each) and all isolates of fungi from genera Gliocladium and Trichoderma were used to determine their antagonistic effect towards Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium culmorum, F. oxysporum, F. solani, Phoma exigua var. exigua, Pythium irregulare, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum according to the method described by Maka [1974], Martyniuk et al. [1991], Pita [1999]. RESULTS A laboratory microbiological analysis of particular soil samples pointed to a differentiated number of bacteria and fungi (tab. 1). The biggest total number of bacteria among the studied samples was characteristic of rhizosphere soil sampled from the combination after chitosan was used three times, i.e. for seed dressing, seedling spray- Acta Sci. Pol.
The effect of chitosan on the formation of microorganism communities in the rhizosphere soil... 71 ing and plant spraying at the beginning of anthesis. The smallest total number of bacteria (3.98 10 6 cfu) was found in the rhizosphere soil of soybean in the control combination (tab. 1). A similar number was observed for bacteria Bacillus spp. The number of colonies of these bacteria in 1 g of d.w. of soybean rhizosphere soil was the highest in soil samples after chitosan was used three times, while the smallest (1.8 10 6 cfu) was found in the rhizsophere soil of the control combination (tab. 1). Bacteria from genus Pseudomonas were also isolated from the soil samples. The greatest number of these bacteria was obtained from the rhizosphere soil after chitosan was used once, i.e. when it was used only for seed dressing, whereas the lowest number of colonies was observed in the control soil (tab. 1). Particular soil samples contained varying numbers of fungi colonies. The smallest number of fungi isolates, 30.06 10 3 cfu was obtained from the rhizosphere soil of soybean after chitosan was used three times (tab. 1). On the other hand, the highest number of fungi colonies in soybean rhizosphere soil was found in the control combination. The species and quantitative composition of fungi from particular samples of soybean rhizosphere soil was variable (tab. 2). Saprobionts and fungi pathogenic towards soybean occurred within the isolated fungi colonies (unpublished results from infection tests). The most frequently isolated pathogenic fungus was Fusarium oxysporum, whose isolates constituted about 13.5% of all the obtained fungi. This fungus was most frequently isolated from the soil sampled from the control combination and from the combination after using chitosan twice. This species was scarce in the rhizosphere soil of soybean after chitosan was used three times (tab. 2). Besides, Fusarium solani, Pythium irregulare, Rhizoctonia solani and Scleroctinia sclerotiorum were isolated from the studied samples of rhizosphere soil. In the case of the rhizosphere soil from the control combination, Verticillium albo-atrum was sporadically isolated. The dominating saprobiontic fungus was Trichoderma spp. represented by T. hamatum, T. harzianum, T. koningii, T. pseudokoningii and T. viride. Those species were especially numerous in the rhizosphere of soybean after chitosan was used three times (tab. 2). Gliocladium spp. was isolated from the studied soil samples in smaller numbers. The species from this genus was mainly isolated from the rhizosphere soil of soybean after chitosan was used two and three times. Besides, fungi from the genera Acremonium, Aspergillus and Penicillium as well as Aureobasidium pullulans, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Mucor hiemalis, Myrothecium verrucaria were isolated from the soil samples (tab. 2). Among Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. the greatest number of isolates with antagonistic effect towards pathogenic fungi was obtained from the rhizosphere soil of soybean whose seeds were dressed with chitosan. The smallest number of bacteria with such an effect was obtained from the rhizosphere soil in the control combination (tab. 3). The highest number of antagonistic fungi from genus Gliocladium occurred in the rhizosphere soil of soybean whose seeds were dressed with chitosan and the seedlings were sprayed, while in the case of genus Trichoderma in the combination when chitosan was used three times (seed dressing, seedling spraying and plant spraying at the beginning of anthesis) (tab. 3). Hortorum Cultus 4(2) 2005
Table 1. The number of bacteria and fungi isolated from the rhizosphere of soybean (1999 2001) Tabela 1. Liczebno bakterii i grzybów wyizolowanych z ryzosfery soi (1999 2001) Experimental combination Kombinacja dowiadczenia Total number of bacteria (mln g -1 d.w. of soil) Ogólna liczba bakterii (mln g -1 s. m. gleby) Total number of Bacillus spp. (mln g -1 d.w. of soil) Liczba bakterii Bacillus spp. (mln g -1 s. m. gleby) Total number of Pseudomonas spp. (mln g -1 d.w. of soil) Liczba bakterii Pseudomonas spp. (mln g -1 s. m. gleby) Total number of fungi (thous. g -1 d.w. of soil) Ogólna liczba grzybów (tys. g -1 s. m. gleby) Seed treated with chitosan Nasiona zaprawiane chitozanem 4.77* ab 1.89 a 1.87 d 38.58 b Seed treated wit chitosan + sprayed seedlings Nasiona zaprawiane chitozanem + opryskane siewki 5.22 b 2.01 a 1.3 c 47.88 c Seed treated wit chitosan + sprayed seedlings + sprayed plants at anthesis Nasiona zaprawiane chitozanem + opryskane siewki + opryskane roliny w fazie kwitnienia 6.82 c 3.84 b 0.87 b 30.06 a Control Kontrola 3.98 a 1.80 a 0.62 a 73.55 d * mean in columns fellowed by the same letter do not differ significantly at P 0.05 rednie wartoci w kolumnach oznaczone t sam liter nie róni si istotnie przy P 0,05
Table 2. Fungi frequently in habited in the rhizosphere soil of soybean (sums isolates 1999 2001) Tabela 2. Grzyby czsto wystepujce w glebie ryzosferowej soi (suma izolatów 1999 2001) Fungus species Gatunek grzyba Experimental combination / numer of isolates Kombinacja dowiadczenia / Liczba izolatów seed treated wit chitosan seed treated wit chitosan + sprayed seedlings seed treated with chitosan + sprayed seedlings + sprayed plants at anthesis nasiona zaprawiane nasiona zaprawianechitozanem nasiona zaprawiane chitozanem + opryskane chitozanem + opryskane siewki siewki + opryskane roliny w fazie kwitnienia Acremonium murorum (Corda.) W. Gams 9 3 3 1 Acremonium roseum (Oud.) W. Gams 22 6 - - Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler 4 4 1 5 Aspergillus fumigatus Fresenius 1 - - 2 Aspergillus niger van Tieghem - - 2 - Aureobasidium pullulans (de Bary) Arnaud. 2 55 8 - Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries 58 - - - Fusarium spp. 39 108 3 171 Fusarium equiseti (Corda.) Sacc. 2 - - 3 Fusarium oxysporum Schl. 36 60 3 101 Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. 1 48-67 Gliocladium spp. 23 58 43 6 Gliocladium catenulatum Gilman et Abbott 6 15 28 4 Gliocladium fimbriatum Gilman et Abbott 4 - - - Gliocladium roseum Bainier 13 43 15 2 Mucor hiemalis Wehmer 1 4 87 20 Myrothecium verrucaria Dietmar ex Fries - 1 - - Penicillium spp. 20 100 68 115 Penicillium canescens Scopp. 20 53 33 29 Penicillium nigricans (Bain.) Thom - 44 35 74 Penicillium purpurogenum Stoll - 2-4 Penicillium verrucosum Dierckx var. cyclopium (Westling) Samson, Stolk et Hadlok - - - 5 Penicillium verrucosum Dierckx var. verrucosum Samson, Stolk et Hadlok - 1-3 Pythium irregulare Buisman 16 - - 18 Rhizoctonia solani Khn - 2-5 Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary 17 3-7 Trichoderma spp. 68 82 196 7 Trichoderma hamatum (Bon.) Bain 4 1 8 - Trichoderma harzianum (Bonord.) Bain. 6 18 23 1 Trichoderma koningii Oud. 41 46 86 4 Trichoderma pseudokoningii Rifai - 4 - - Trichoderma viride Pers. ex S. F. Gray 17 13 79 2 Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke, Berth - - - 3 Total Razem 280 426 411 360 control kontrola
Table 3. Antagonistic bacteria and fungi isolated from rhizosphere soil of soybean in particular experimental combinations Tabela 3. Antagonistyczne bakterie i grzyby wyizolowane z gleby ryzosferowej soi w poszczególnych kombinacjach dowiadczenia Number of isolates Liczba izolatów experimental combination kombinacja dowiadczenia Bacteria and fungi Bakterie i grzyby seed treated with chitosan nasiona zaprawiane chitozanem seed treated wit chitosan + sprayed seedlings nasiona zaprawiane chitozanem + opryskane siewki seed treated wit chitosan + sprayed seedlings + sprayed plants at anthesis nasiona zaprawiane chitozanem + opryskane siewki + opryskane roliny w fazie kwitnienia control kontrola Bacillus spp. 19 1 6 4 Pseudomonas spp. 8 11 12 5 Total Razem 27 12 18 9 Gliocladium spp. 23 58 43 6 Gliocladium catenulatum 6 15 28 4 Gliocladium fimbriatum 4 - - - Gliocladium roseum 13 43 15 2 Trichoderma spp. 68 82 196 7 Trichoderma hamatum 4 1 8 - Trichoderma harzianum 6 18 23 1 Trichoderma koningii 41 46 86 4 Trichoderma pseudokoningii - 4 - - Trichoderma viride 17 13 79 2 Total Ogółem 91 140 239 13
The effect of chitosan on the formation of microorganism communities in the rhizosphere soil... 75 DISCUSSION The results showed that the quantitative and qualitative composition of the communities of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere soil of soybean varied. Introducing chitosan in the form of gel into the soil probably stimulated the growth and development of bacteria and fungi. Those results were confirmed by the earlier studies conducted by Pita et al. [2001]. The highest number of bacteria colonies occurred in the rhizosphere soil of soybean after chitosan was used three times (seed dressing, seedling spraying and plant spraying at the beginning of anthesis). On the other hand, the fewest cfu of fungi were observed in this sample of rhizosphere soil. According to Myków [1989], there are definite proportions between microorganism populations. It means that intensive multiplication of bacteria is accompanied by poorer development of fungi and vice versa. This fact was fully confirmed in the present studies. Chitosan used three times considerably increased the population of Bacillus spp., which occurred in the smallest numbers in the control combination. Besides, Gliocladium spp. and Trichoderma spp., which showed antagonistic effect, were isolated in big numbers from the samples of rhizosphere soil after using chitosan. The smallest number of fungi was obtained from the control combination soil. According to Teichgraber et al. [1991], the application of chitosan causes the stimulation of chitinolytic microorganisms, which are Trichoderm spp. Transmo et al. [1993], Pospieszny and Struszczyk [1994], Orlikowski et al. [2001] observed that chitosan stimulates the development of microorganisms of antagonistic effect, which cause considerable reduction of plant pathogens. The development of microorganisms in the soil might have been caused not only by the introduction of chitosan but also by the effect of soybean through root exudates. Abundant occurrence of saprobionts in the rhizosphere should be ascribed to the synergistic effect of chitosan and root exudates. Plants, through their roots, exudate compounds which are a rich nutritious substrate for microorganisms consisting of aminoacids, sugars, organic acids or metal ions [Funck-Jensen and Hockenhull 1984, Pita 1988]. Root exudates contain considerable amounts of aminoacids and sugars, the basic source of C and N for rhizosphere microorganisms [Patkowska 2001]. The presence of nutritious elements in rhizosphere and the stimulating effect on the growth and development of antagonistic microorganisms can affect the proper development of microorganisms and plants. CONCLUSIONS 1. Introducing chitosan into the soil caused an increase of saprobiontic microorganisms with antagonistic effect towards pathogenic fungi. 2. Using chitosan three times caused a significant increase of the occurrence of antagonists in rhizosphere soil. 3. Using chitosan caused reduction of the populations of pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium spp., Pythium irregulare, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in rhizosphere soil. Hortorum Cultus 4(2) 2005
76 A. Pastucha REFERENCES Alexander M., 1977. Introduction to soil microbiology. 2 nd ed. Wiley J., Sons R. London, 467. Badura L., 2004. Czy znamy wszystkie uwarunkowania funkcji mikroorganizmów w ekosystemach ldowych. Probl. Nauk Biol. Kosmos 53, ¾, 373 379. Funck-Jensen D., Hockenhull J., 1984. Root exudation, rhizosphere microorganisms and disease control. Växtskyddsnotiser 48, 49 54. Maka K., 1974. Zbiorowiska grzybów jako kryterium oceny wpływu rodowiska na choroby rolin. Zesz. Probl. Post. Nauk Rol. 160, 9 23. Martin J. P., 1950. Use of acid, rose bengal and streptomycin in the method for estimating soil fungi. Soil Sci. 38, 215 220. Martyniuk S., Masiak D., Stachyra W., Myków., 1991. Populations of microorganisms of the root zone of various grasses and their antagonisms towards Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. Pam. Puł. Pr. IUNG 98, 139 144. Myków W., 1989. Zwizki midzy aktywnoci biologiczn gleby, a jej yznoci i urodzajno- ci. Mat. Szkol. Biologiczne metody podnoszenia yznoci i urodzajnoci gleb. Puławy, 51 53. Orlikowski L. B., Skrzypczak C., Niekraszewicz A., Struszczyk H., 2001. Influence of chitosan on the development of Fusarium wilt of carnation. Progres on Chemistry and Application of Chitin and Its Derivatives, Struszczyk H. ed. VII, 155 158, Polish Chitin Soc. Łód 2001. Parke J. L., 1990. Root colonization by indigenous and introduced microorganisms. [in:] The Rhizosphere and Plant Growth. D. L. Keister P. B. Gregan (eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Durdrecht, The Netherlands, 33 42. Patkowska E., 2001. Bacterial and fungal populations in the rhizosphere of various plants as related to root exudates. J. Plant Protect. Res. 41, 3, 240 249. Pita D., 1988. Mikozy wystpujce w uprawach fasoli (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) i podatno rónych odmian na poraenie przez niektóre grzyby. Ser. Wyd. Rozpr. Nauk. AR Lublin. Pita D., 1999. Initial studies of populations of fungi bacteria in the soil under influence of the cultivation of spring wheat and winter wheat in a growth chamber. Acta Agrobot. 52, 1 2, 161-166. Pita D., Pastucha A., Struszczyk H., 2000. Skuteczno zaprawiania chitozanem nasion fasoli wielokwiatowej (Phaseolus coccineus L.) przez grzyby. Rocz. AR. Pozna, CCCXXIII, Ogrodn. 31, 1, 409 413. Pita D., Pastucha A., Struszczyk H., Wójcik W. 2001. Kształtowanie si zbiorowisk mikroorganizmów w glebie pod wpływem chitozanu i uprawy fasoli wielokwiatowej (Phaseolus coccineus L.) Acta Agrobot. 54, 2, 105 115. Pospieszny H., 1977. Niektóre aspekty stosowania chitozanu w ochronie rolin. Prog. Plant Protect. 37, (1), 306-309. Pospieszny H., Struszczyk H., 1994. Chitozan potencjalny biopreparat przeciwko patogenom rolin. Mat. XXXIV Sesji Nauk. IOR, cz. I. Pozna, 117 124. Rovira A. D., 1969. Plant root exudates. Bot. Rev. 35, 35 57. Teichgraber P., Popper L., Knorr D., 1991. Chitosan as elicitor for the production of chitynase an antifungal enzyme from soybean seeds. Agro Industry Hi. Tech. 2, 3, 11 14 Transmo A., Skaugrud O., Harman G. E., 1993. Chitosan induces resistance in crop plants their fungal pathogens. Phytopathology 46, 4, 411 414. Acta Sci. Pol.
The effect of chitosan on the formation of microorganism communities in the rhizosphere soil... 77 WPŁYW CHITOZANU NA KSZTAŁTOWANIE SI ZBIOROWISK MIKROORGANIZMÓW W GLEBIE RYZOSFEROWEJ SOI Streszczenie. Dowiadczenie prowadzono w latach 1999 2001. Przedmiotem bada była gleba ryzosferowa soi odmiany Polan oraz 0,1% chitozan. Zwizek ten uyto jednorazowo (zaprawianie nasion), dwukrotnie (zaprawianie nasion i oprysk siewek), trzykrotnie (zaprawianie nasion, oprysk siewek i oprysk rolin w fazie kwitnienia). W dowiadczeniu uwzgldniono równie kombinacje kontroln, tj. bez uycia chitozanu. Celem bada było okrelenie wpływu chitozanu na skład jakociowy i ilociowy populacji mikroorganizmów w glebie ryzosferowej z wyszczególnieniem antagonistów. Przeprowadzona analiza mikrobiologiczna prób gleby ryzosferowej soi pobranej z poszczególnych kombinacji dowiadczenia wskazała na rón liczebno bakterii oraz grzybów. Najwiksz ogóln liczb kolonii bakterii, a najmniejsz liczb kolonii grzybów charakteryzowała si gleba ryzosferowa soi po trzykrotnym zastosowaniu chitozanu. W tej próbie gleby wystpiło najwicej bakterii i grzybów o antagonistycznym oddziaływaniu wzgldem fitopatogenów Słowa kluczowe: chitozan, soja, ryzosfera, bakterie antagonistyczne, grzyby antagonistyczne Accepted for print Zaakceptowano do druku: 13.08.2005 Hortorum Cultus 4(2) 2005